Detective Inspector Rosa Marín arrived at the Galería del Sol in Seville on Friday morning. A valuable painting — a small oil portrait worth €80,000 — had disappeared. According to the gallery's records, the theft happened between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday evening. The building was locked during that time, and only three people have keys: the owner, Mr Delgado; the security guard, Carlos; and a cleaner named Lupe.
Rosa examined the evidence carefully. The alarm did not go off during the night. "The thief must know the security code," she said. "It can't have been a stranger — a stranger wouldn't have that information." The security camera outside showed that the gallery lights were on until 7:15pm. "Someone must have been inside after closing time," Rosa noted.
The gallery's records showed that Lupe, the cleaner, clocked out at 5:30pm — thirty minutes before the gallery closed. "She can't have taken the painting," Rosa said. "She was already gone when the theft happened." Near the back door, Rosa noticed muddy footprints on the floor. "The thief must have entered through the garden," she concluded.
On the windowsill, Rosa found a coffee cup — still faintly warm. "Someone might have been watching the gallery for days," she said quietly. The owner, Mr Delgado, was easy to rule out: six witnesses confirmed he was at a dinner across the city from 6pm onwards. "He can't be the thief," Rosa said.
That left Carlos, the security guard. He had called in sick that day — but he lived only five minutes from the gallery. "He might have returned later," Rosa said. "I need to speak to him." She reached for her phone. Rosa was careful, though. "The evidence is clear about some things and uncertain about others. I must be careful — deductions are not proof."